Filamentary thread guide



u y 1954 H. J. MCDERMOTT FILAMENTARY THREAD GUIDE Filed Feb. 26, 1952 A21 PW /5 INVENTOR. HENR Y J. MCDERMOTT Aria/m5).

Patented July 27, 1954 FILAMENTARY THREAD GUIDE Henry J. McDermott,Collingdale, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application February 26,1952, Serial No. 273,515

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a thread guide for filamentary material andmore particularly to athread guide wherein the lateral disposition of apair of filamentary strands may be adjustably controlled.

In the continuous so-called wet spinning method of producing artificialthreads, such as from solutions of cellulose and derivatives thereof,the filamentary material or yarn is commonly conducted successively in ahelical fashion over a plurality of thread-advancing devices. In thisway the yarn, as it helically progresses along each of thethread-advancing devices may be conveniently subjected to varioussuccessive processing operations such as washing, desulfurizing, dyeing,bleaching, and drying.

As the. demands of production continue to require of existing equipmentincreased quantities of yarn, it has been found expedient to helicallywrap one or more additional strands of filamentary material between theadjacent helical convolutions of the originally accommodated strand offilamentary material. In this way a plurality of individual filamentarystrands may be simultaneously handled on the same processing machine andits productive output may be thereby increased.

For proper processing results, however, each strand of yarn should besubjected to each treating solution for a certain minimum time interval.As this time interval is dependent upon the number of helicalconvolutions of each strand on the yarn handling drums, it is oftentimesnecessary to place adjacent convolutions of the individual strands ofyarn relatively close together. Due to lateral vibrations of the yarnstrands as they approach the various thread advancing devices, thespacing between adjacent convolutions may occasionally become reduced sothat the surface tension of the liquid on the treated yarn draws theadjacent strands together and allows the separate strands to becomeentangled or overlapped to such an extent as to render subsequentseparation difficult. Although various so-called wetting agents may beemployed to reduce the surface tension of the liquid on thehelix of yarnbeing treated, and to facilitate separation after being overlapped, itis often undesirable to use a wetting agent;

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved thread guide wherein the inherent lateral vibratory movement ofthe filamentary material is substantially eliminated as it approachesthe filamentary handling device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved thread guide which permits a, plurality of slightly separatedfilamentary strands to track separately in a helical manner about thethread advancing drum.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved thread guide which is adjustable such that the space betweenadjacent convolutions of a pair of individually helically woundfilamentary strands may be conveniently controlled.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

In the drawing which is illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom view of the improved thread guide shownin Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the thread guide of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail as seen at IVIV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail showing the thread guide means shown inFigure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail as seen at VII-VII of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective of still another embodiment of the improvedtype of thread guide of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing the filamentary strands 3 and4 progress upwardly from their respective spinnerets 5 and 6 through thecoagulating or regenerating bath 1 toward the thread guide 8 and thethread advancing or handling device 9 which is shown diagrammatically inthe drawing but which may take any convenient form such as a pair ofcanted yarn advancing drums or a single yarn advancing reel. The threadguide means 8 may be mounted, on the frame H) which rotatably supportsthe device 9 by any convenient means such as by the bracket l I shown inthe drawing. Strands 3 and 4 pass through the thread guide 8 in a mannerwhich will be hereinafter more fully explained and thereafter progresshelically about the device 9 from right to left as shown by the arrow inFigure 1. Thereafter each of the strands proceeds to the next processingstation which is not shown onv the drawing.

In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the structure of the thread guiding mean is moreclearly shown.

Essentially it comprises a body member [2, and three triangularlydisposed guide pins 53, M, and i5 which extend outwardly therefrom. Pinsl3 and I4 are mounted in apertures l6 and ll in the body member as shownin the drawing but may be aflixed thereto in any convenient manner. Thedistance between the peripheries of pins i l and l5 is less thanthediameter of pin it and the line joining the centers of pins Hi and I5is substantially transverse to the path of travel of filaments 3 and 4.One or both of the pins hi and l5 is preferably eccentrically mounted onthe body member so that the spacing the-rebetween may be varied and theproximity of adjacent strands may be controlled as they approach andhelically progress along the thread advancing device. Thus, as shownin=Figures 3 :and the eccentric reduced diameter portion 180i pin I5 isrotatably mounted in the body member aperture I9. The hexagonal-shapedupper portion 22 of the pin is preferably provided to facilitate an adjustmentrthereof whilethe laterally disposed threaded aperture and itscomplementary set screw 2| provide a means whereby the pin 15 may beclamped'in a desired position.

Although the eccentricportion it 'of adjustable pin f5 is shownherein asbeing reduced-in diameter, it is'to be understood'that'its diameter maybe similartoor larger than the diameter of'the strand contacting portion'of the pin without departing from the spirit or*scope-of the presentinvention. Similarly, although only one of the pins F4 and "l 5 is showninthe drawing as being adjustable, as indicated hereinbefore it is to beunderstood that each of the pins may be made adjustable withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

As stated'hereinabovetheguide means may be mounted on the frame id ofthe thread advancing devicei by any convenientmeans such asby thebracket H. Preferably the body member I2 of the guide means is providedwith an inwardly extending aperture it and'a set screw 2% whereby theguide may be conveniently adjustably positioned onbracket H with respecttothe device 9.

In operation the separate strands '3 and "d emerge from their respectivespinnerets 5 andv in into coagulating'bath "I and progress upwardlytoward the thread guide means [2. The strands pass on opposite sides ofthe fixed guide pin 13 and thereafter inwardly between the fixed pin I l'andthe adjustable pin it. Thus, it is'tobe noted that each of thestrands is successively "flexed slightly in opposite directions'from itsnorma'lthread path as it slidably contacts its pair of associated guidepins. In this way the "lateral vibratory movement of each of the strands'is dampened and practically eliminated such that thespacing'therebet'ween may be accurately controlled as they approach andcontact the thread advancing device. Pin i5 is made adjustable so that"strand 4 may be centrally positioned between successive helicalconvolutiens of the strand 3 about the thread advancing device. Theparal- "lel strands after they emerge from the opposite end of the drumproceed toward a similar subsequent processing station which is notshown on the drawing.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures5,6, and-70f the drawing. Asshown therein, a-modifiedthread guide meansis adapted to be mounted on the cylindrical shell 26 which surrounds thethread advancing device 21 and confines the liquid treating solutiontherein. Thus-the notch-28 is formedadjacent one end of the shell 26 toaccommodate the thread guide means 25. Clamping plates 29 and 30 and thewing screw 2| therebetween provide a mounting means for the thread guidewherein plates 29 and 30 respectively engage the inner and outersurfaces of the shell adjacent the notch. Body member 32 of theguide isadjustably affixed to the clamping plate '29 by mean of the machinescrew 33. In 'this'way the position of the guide may be rotatably varieddepending upon the angle of approach of the filamentary material towardthe treating drum. The disposition and construction of the threadcontacting pins 334/35 "and g36-is similar to that of the pins [3, I' l,vandil5 shown and described hereinbefore and therefore will not bedescribed in detail here. Therhorizontahbarrjal is preferably positionedbetween the bosses 3'8 and 39 which extend upwardly from the body .32and thereby provides additional thread guiding means.

In operation the separate strands 540 and 4| emerge from theirrespective spinnerets 5A2 and 43 and the coagulating bath 1'4andprogressnpwardly toward the thread guide means. strands pass over thehorizontally disposediguide pin 31, r on opposite sidesof theguide .pin534,.and between the fixed pin 35 and -.the adjustable :pin '36. Theythen'progress inahelicalvmannenabout the treating :drum 27, emergetherefrom :and thereafter proceed toward .a subsequent :-pr0cess ingstation whichds not shownon=the=drawing.

A thirdembodiment of the improved type :of thread guide of the presentinvention is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawing. vshown therein,:this modification of the :guide :includes the three generally.triangularly :disposedupins git, '51, and 52 which-extendoutwardlyandpreferably transversely from the surfaceofthelplate member 53 and thepairof horizontallydisposed.guide bars 5 1 and 55 which are mounted.adjacentoppositeextremities-of theiplate member. Aseinzthe previouslydescribed embodiments of ithe invention, the pin .59 is affixed to :the:plate member .53 -in any suitable manner. The-other threadcon- *tactingpins :51 .and 52 :of this embodiment arefixedlymountedcnthe.cylindricalzturnstilemember 55 which is positionedin the complementary cylindrical bore .51 in the :plate member. Theithumb screw .58 which .threadedly engages the aperture v59 in the plate:member and :is adapted to engage andlockthe turnstilemember :in-anydesired position. As shown :in the drawing :the plated? and theturnstile :55 .are preferably :suit- .ably calibrated to :facilitatepredetermined ;adjustments. Though .-not shown .on the drawing .any,suitable :guide mountingzmeans asuchas those previously describedherei-n could be employed.

In operationiby suitably adjusting the rotation- .al position of the.turnstile member the relative .separation or the individual filamentarystrands 60 andzdl maybe readily controlled. As the previously describedembodiments, the :hori- .zontally sdisposed guide .bar 523 permitsapossible angular approaches of *thestrands 6i] :and "6 toward the'guidefrom the spinning bath or gather preceding processing station. The otherguide bar '55 eliminates the vertically :disposedafiattened surface oneach of the filamentary strands or bundles which may be produced as theyengage theupright pins 51 and 52 and instead applies a horizontalflattening tendency in the "same they progress toward the threadadvancing device. In this way the tendency for the generally =ovalstrands to roll a quarter zoi .a turn in .either direction from theirupright position when they contact the thread advancing device iseliminated and still further improved tracking results on the same areobtained.

It has been found that the thread guides of the present inventionprovide a means whereby the inherent lateral vibratory movement of thefilamentary material may be practically eliminated as it approaches thethread handling device. In this way the pitch of the helical windingsmay be considerably reduced without causing the risk of entanglementthereof and greater quantities of filamentary material may be handled.

While the invention is shown in the drawings and described below inconnection with the continuous spinning and process of artificial yarnsby the viscose process it is to be understood that the invention isapplicable to any machine or procedure in which yarn is handled on ayarn advancing device.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, thedescription is intended to be illustrative only and it is to beunderstood that changes and variations may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for handling synthetic plastic filaments, thecombination which comprises means for feeding at least two filamentsalong a substantially parallel path, thread-advancing means terminatingsaid path on which the filaments are wound in side-by-side helicalturns, a first filament guide positioned between each filament andcontacted on opposite sides thereof by each filament, a second filamentguide positioned longitudinally along said path in the direction oftravel of the filaments and in spaced relation to the first guide, and athird filament guide positioned longitudinally along said path in thedirection of travel of the filaments and in spaced relation to both thefirst and second guides, the transverse spacing of the second and thirdguides being proportioned with respect to the diameter of the firstguide so that each yarn filament is outwardly restrained by contact withthe opposing faces of the second and third guides and each yarn filamentis inwardly restrained by contact with opposite sides of th first guidewhereby each filament is delivered to an axially constant point on theperiphery of the threadadvancing means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the second and thirdguides are substantially equally spaced from the first guide.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which one of the transverselyspaced guides is adjustable with respect to the other.

4. Apparatus in accordanc with claim I having a mounting bracket for allthree guides in Which one of the transversely spaced guides isadjustably secured.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which the adjustable mountingof the guide is an eccentric extension of the guide.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which the transversely spacedguides ar both mounted in a rotatable element, and means for lockingsaid element in a preselected rotated position to vary the transversespacing of the filaments as they pass between said guides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 423,847 White Mar. 18, 1890 1,183,612 Whitin May 16, 19162,451,795 Barnes Oct. 19, 1948 2,579,846 Moravec Dec. 25, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 266,603 Switzerland May 1, 1950

